Get your tickets for NMSU’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Each year in May, the Alumni Committee of the NMSU Foundation board begins the long process of reviewing nominations for the Foundation’s Distinguished Alumni awards, including the Young Alumni Service Award and James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service.

The competition is fierce — so many Aggies have made exceptional contributions to their industries and their communities! But after reviewing the nominations, using a carefully considered rubric, and participating in many (!) hours of spirited discussion, the Alumni Committee makes its decision and whittles this competitive field down to the eight awardees.

We invite you to celebrate these outstanding Aggies with us during Homecoming at the Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner and ceremony on Friday, November 7, at the Las Cruces Convention Center. Please register no later than October 24, 2025.

Friday, November 7, 2025
Cocktail Hour 5pm-6pm 
Awards and Dinner 6:30pm
Las Cruces Convention Center | 680 E. University Ave.

Ticket purchase is open! 

This year’s Distinguished Alumni are:

Cynthia Bejarano, Ph.D. ’95, ’97 
James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service

Keagan Karnes ’14 
Young Alumni Service Award

Edward M. Avalos ’74, ’96 
Distinguished Alum, College of ACES

SGM Mike Cano, U.S. Army (Retired) ’93 
Distinguished Alum, College of Arts and Sciences

Dawn M. Gelino, Ph.D. ’99, ’01 
Distinguished Alumna, College of Arts and Sciences

Joe Christian ’84 
Distinguished Alum, College of Business

Frank A. Kozeliski, P.E. ’67, ’69 
Distinguished Alum, College of Engineering

Aisha Jones, DNP ’03 
Distinguished Alumni, College of HEST

Learn more about our 2025 honorees.